Softball Honors Sophomores with Sweep over Saddleback in Final Conference Contest

The power duo of sophomore sluggers Jocelyn Ontiveros and Danielle Lopez continued to flex on opponents as they each went yard in a 9-1 mercy rule victory over the Saddleback College Gauchos in the final Orange Empire Conference (OEC) showdown of the season.

Lopez and Ontiveros combined for six RBI and four extra base hits in the contest. Lopez edged out Ontiveros for the season lead in round trippers as she blasted 12 bombs to Ontiveros' six. Lopez finishes the season leading the conference in jacks. Furthermore, they each drove in 30 RBI on the year.

Sophomore Lorena Fitch continued to dominate in the circle as she hauled in her 14 win of the year. She allowed a mere run in four innings. In her final six appearances, she reigned supreme in four starts and earned five wins. Sophomore Brianna Arroyo finished out the game by tossing a scoreless frame and not allowing a hit.

Riverside scored at least one run in all but one inning highlighted by a pair of three spots in the first and the fourth inning. Freshman center fielder Samantha Peluffo handed the Tigers the mercy rule victory by barreling a game-ending two-RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring sophomore third baseman Anna Loreto and Ontiveros.

Riverside finishes the season with an overall record of 26-13 with a conference mark of 13-8. They are slotted to hold one of the top seeds in the Southern region and will likely host the first round of playoffs at home beginning on Friday, May 3.

Stay tuned to www.rccathletics for all information in the coming days.